Device and Method for Packing Syringes in Nests

ABSTRACT

A device for packing syringes in nests comprising means of setting the syringes to the right pitch and first means of gripping the said syringes set to the said pitch. The device is characterised in that it also comprises a transport chain with links having the said pitch, in closed circuit and in movement at least about two driving axes, the said gripping means being in movement synchronised with the movement of the chain, in order to pick up a predetermined quantity of syringes in movement from the said chain,

The present invention relates to a device for packing syringes in nests,comprising:

-   -   means for setting syringes to the right pitch, arranged to        separate and move the brought syringes to the said pitch,    -   first means of gripping said syringes set to the said pitch,        having a gripping position in which the gripping means grip a        predetermined quantity of syringes and a release position in        which the gripping means release the said predetermined quantity        of syringes in order to arrange them in nests.

Syringes are usually packed in displays that hold the syringes in anordered manner spaced apart from one another in order to avoid contactbetween the syringes, in particular during transport.

The nests are syringe displays, generally made from polypropylene. Thenests comprise a base plate provided with tubes all extending the samedirection through which the syringes are fitted and having a height h.The syringes have at one end, opposite to the injection orifice to whichpossibly a needle will be fixed, a collar with a diameter greater thanthat of the syringe. When the syringes are inserted in the tubes, thecollars rest on the end of these tubes that is free, that is to say notconnected to the base plate.

Syringes are usually sold empty in this conformation and often withoutthe piston, which will be fixed only after filling of the syringe.

Companies producing syringes therefore require a device for packing themanufactured syringes in nests in order to be able to supply them withthe least possible breakage. Though a broken syringe does not representany real financial hole for the producer, the possible presence ofminiscule, or even microscopic, shards of glass in the other syringes isa major problem since the risk of causing serious problems in thepatient in whom this microscopic fraction of glass has been injected ishighly present. It is therefore clear that syringe manufacturers mustreduce the risk of the presence of these shards and this considerationoccupies a very important place in the packing of syringes.

In addition, when a pharmaceutical company wishes to package a productin a syringe, in particular in a glass syringe, it goes to syringemanufacturers and they are supplied in displays (nests). Generally thenests are provided with a protective cover that protects the syringesfrom breaking, the syringes being disposed in parallel and keptsubstantially separated from one another precisely by virtue of the saidnests. However, to fill them, the syringes may be denested and conveyedon a conveyor belt where they are then filled, fitted with a piston,autoclaved and then once again conveyed for repacking in nests.Naturally, for this step also, the risk of the presence of a glass shardis to be reduced as far as possible and consequently it is crucial toreduce the risk of breakage of the syringes.

In known nesting devices, the syringes arrive on a conveyor belt at thepoint where they are to be placed in nests. A direction system orientsthem and spaces them at an appropriate distance from one another like aspacing worm. Next, a robotised clamp takes one or more of themsimultaneously, presents them above the orifices in the nest andreleases them. In this way the syringes are nested or renested afterfilling.

Unfortunately, such a device for packing syringes in nests requiresstoppage of the pitch worm whenever the robotised clamp is to take offsyringes. Any stoppage and restarting, although expensive in terms ofenergy, is in addition a potential source of damage to the syringes.This is because the conveying of the syringes is each time stoppedabruptly, striking the syringes against one another by way of stoppage.In the case of breakage, even if the syringes are not completely broken,glass shards form and increase the risk of finding a glass shard in thecontent of a syringe.

The purpose of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the priorart by procuring a device for packing syringes in nests make it possiblenot to have to stop the direction system that orients them and spacesthem by an appropriate distance from one another. In addition, thedevice according to the invention makes it possible to achieve packingefficiencies from 2 to 3 times higher. This is because no longer beinglimited by the risk of breakage makes it possible to increase the numberof syringes packed per hour.

To solve this problem, there is provided according to the invention adevice as indicated at the start also comprising a conveying chain withlinks having the said pitch, in closed circuit and moving at least abouttwo drive shafts, arranged to transport and move the syringes comingfrom the means of setting at the right pitch, each link being arrangedto house at least part of a syringe, and in that the said first grippingmeans pass from the release position to the gripping position, in amovement synchronised with the movement of the chain, in order to take apredetermined quantity of moving syringes from the said chain.

In this way, the syringes regularly spaced apart by the said pitch bythe said pitch-setting means are then each transported in a chain withlinks, which conveys then without stoppage time for the pitch-settingmeans. The gripping means in synchronised movement with the chain comeup against the transport chain and grip the said moving syringes. Thereis therefore no time during which the chain or the pitch-setting meansare stopped. Once the syringes are gripped by the gripping means, thatis to say once the gripping means are in the gripping position, thegripping means separate from the chain and are directed towards thenest, where the syringes will be released from the said gripping meansand therefore packed in the tubes projecting from the base plate of thesaid nest and the collars of the said syringes will rest on the free endof the said tubes. The collars of the said syringes serving as a stopfor the penetration of the syringes into the tubes. Very surprisingly,packing yields of 30,000 per hour can be achieved according to theinvention whereas with the known devices scarcely 12,000 syringes perhour was achieved while risking having shards in the syringes. It goeswithout saying that the device according to the invention represents asignificant and particularly inventive improvement on the known devices.

Advantageously, the syringe packing device according to the inventioncomprises a transfer wheel arranged to load the syringes set at theright pitch by the said pitch-setting means in the said transport chain.

In this way, the continuity of transport between the pitch-setting meansand the transport chain is improved, which reduces further the risk ofbreakage and further increases the profitability of the device accordingto the invention. In addition, such a transfer wheel allows a change ofaxis where necessary between the direction of the pitch setting and thedirection of transfer in the transport chain, which may in certain caseswhen necessary reduce the overall size of the device according to theinvention, in places such as white rooms where this is particularlyessential since any space to be maintained is very expensive.

In a particular embodiment, the said links of the chain are connectedtogether by a pivot point enabling the links to be movable with respectto one another unidirectionally from a chain spindle passing througheach pivot point.

The word “unidirectionally” means that, with respect to the direction oftravel of the transport chain, the links can start to rotate about thesaid pivot point on one side only, that is to say, since the chain is inclosed circuit, solely towards the inside of the shape produced by theclosed circuit or solely towards the outside thereof. Consequently, inorder to achieve this, the link has for example a stop that locks therotation of the link in one direction with respect to the direction oftravel of the chain. This stop may, by way of example, be a projectingelement or an external wall that comprises a ridge.

It is clear from this that the chain can form any shape, which will betermed a simple shape, such as an ellipse, a circle, a rectangle, asquare, a trapezium, a hexagon, an octagon or the like.

In a particular variant, the said chain links are connected together bya pivot point enabling the links to be movable with respect to eachother bidirectionally from a chain spindle passing through each pivotpoint.

The word “bidirectionally” means that, with respect to the direction oftravel of the transport chain, the links can start to rotate about thesaid pivot point on each side, that is to say, since the chain is inclosed circuit, towards the inside of the shape produced by the closedcircuit and towards the outside thereof. Consequently, to achieve this,the link preferably has a rounded external wall that allows the rotationof the link in both directions with respect to the direction of travelof the chain.

It is clear from this that the chain can form any shape, which will betermed a complex shape, for example a closed shape comprising one ormore S-shaped portions.

Naturally all combinations are possible, for example the pivot pointenabling the links to be movable with respect to one anotherbidirectionally can also be used for a chain travelling in closedcircuit in a simple shape within the meaning presented above, forexample in order to make uniform the manufacture of these chains and notto have to manufacture two different chains for circuits with simple orcomplex shapes.

Preferably, each link has a cross section substantially identical to thecross section of the syringe to be packed. Consequently the syringe ishoused in an adjusted manner in the said link, which avoids anyclearance within the latter. This represents a considerable asset sinceit makes it possible to use a maximum speed of movement in the chainwithout risk of breakage, since the syringes do not move therein. Inaddition, the gripping means can be optimised since the position atwhich they will grip the syringes will be predetermined and will notnecessarily have to accept a difference in position for the cases wherethe syringes have moved. It is clear that, in a device according to theinvention that allows the packing of syringes that are objects of smallsize and are fragile in a world where everything must be particularlyclean and free from glass shards, such precision is a considerableasset.

Advantageously, each link arranged to house at least part of a syringecomprises a lateral opening for entry or exit of the syringe facing asyringe set to the right pitch by the said pitch-setting means.

For reasons of fluidity of movement, it is preferable for the syringesto pass from the pitch-setting means (via the transfer wheel or not) tothe link intended to house them through a lateral opening, rather thanfor example through the top opening thereof.

Preferably, the said opening has a width adjusted with respect to thecross section of the syringe to be housed in the said link. This isbecause, when the width of the opening is substantially identical to thediameter of the syringe, the device according to the invention makes itpossible to form an adjusted passage and to reduce to a maximum theclearance between the syringe and the link and therefore to reduce therisk of fortuitous escape of the syringe from the link.

In a particular embodiment, each link has a top surface provided with aprojection arranged to lock the said syringe housing the said link. Infact, in a preferential case the projection is situated at the top ofthe opening in the link. In this way, when the syringe passes throughthe opening, it rests on the projection. When the syringe is completelyhoused in the link, it rests on the top edge thereof and is thereforesituated at a lower height than when it rested on the projection. Anymovement towards the opening is therefore prevented and thereforefortuitous escape is very improbable. This improves the precision of thedevice according to the invention a little more.

The invention advantageously also comprises a conveyor preferablyexternal to the said transport chain in closed circuit for transportingnests that are to be packed or have been packed.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to theinvention, the said spacing means are supplied by means of bringingsyringes, in particular by means of a conveyor or a conveyor belt.

According to the invention, the said spacing means have a homogeneouspitch. In a variant, they have a variable pitch, according to the typeof conveyor used upstream of the device according to the invention. Ifthe syringes arrive already spaced regularly from one another,pitch-setting means can comprise an even pitch. If the syringes arriveclose to one another, preferably the pitch-setting means will comprise avariable pitch that will at the end of travel of the pitch-setting meansmake it possible to space the syringes at the pitch of the chain ortransfer wheel, that is to say at the required pitch.

In addition, the transfer wheel and its pitch-setting means can bereplaced by a variable pitch-setting means coupled to a chain returnroller which, although more complex, is an alternative envisagedaccording to the invention.

In addition, in particular embodiment, the device according to theinvention comprises second means of gripping the said syringes set tothe said pitch, having a gripping position in which the second grippingmeans grip a predetermined quantity of syringes and a release positionin which the second gripping means release the said predeterminedquantity of syringes in order to arrange them in nests, the said secondgripping means passing from the release position to the grippingposition, in movement synchronised with the movement of the chain, inorder to take a predetermined quantity of syringes in movement from thesaid chain.

In this advantageous embodiment, the second gripping means make itpossible to process twice the number of syringes per hour. The secondgripping means can of course either work in synchronisation with thefirst gripping means, but also in an offset manner.

The first and second gripping means decide to grip and release a batchof X syringes, which may be 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or any otherappropriate number. Preferably, the gripping means can grip as manysyringes as there are tubes in a row in a nest.

When the first and second gripping means work in synchronisation, theycome up against the chain together, each at a predetermined position atwhich a complete batch of syringes is situated, they grip at the sametime, each their own batch of syringes, and in leaving go towards thenest together in order to release their syringes therein.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the first gripping meansand the second gripping means come together close to each other and,once above the nest, the gripping means release the syringes in thetubes intended to receive them. The collected-together first and secondgripping means then pack the syringes in two consecutive rows, or in tworows spaced apart from each other by an empty row that will be packedsubsequently by the following arrival.

Naturally the first and second gripping means can also not come togetheror come together to a greater or lesser extent, for example if it wishedto fill rows further spaced apart from each other. In this case, for anest comprising 20 rows, it may desirable for the first gripping meansto pack row 1 and the second gripping means to pack row 10, and nextrespectively rows 2 and 11, and then respectively rows 3 and 12, and soon.

When the first and second gripping means work in an offset manner, thefirst gripping means can come up against the chain and grip the syringeswhile the second gripping means leave the chain and are directed towardsthe nest in order to release therein the syringes gripped andtransported.

Next, the first gripping means leave the chain and are directed towardsthe nest in order to release therein the syringes gripped andtransported while the second gripping means come up against the chainand grip the syringes.

In particular, in a variant of the invention, the number of driving axesis at least 4 and the said chain comprises more than one outward sectionand more than one return section.

“More than one outward section and more than one return section” meansthat the chain forms at least an S. Naturally the direction of forwardmovement of the syringes is always that of the chain, but with respectto two fixed points, the direction is reversed between the said outwardsection and the said return section.

In this advantageous variant, the said first and second gripping meansare synchronised and pass from the release position to the grippingposition and grip the said syringes together and release them in thenest together, the said first and second gripping means being arrangedto take the said syringes in movement from the chain, each on adifferent outward section or each on a different return section.

In this advantageous embodiment, the gripping means come up againstdifferent places, but on sections where, with respect to two fixedpoints, the direction of forward movement is identical. In this case, ifit is considered that the first and second gripping means comprise agripping side and a closed side, and that the gripping axis goes fromthe closed side to the gripping side, the gripping axis of the firstgripping means and that of the second gripping means are aligned.Consequently the second gripping means and the first gripping means workwith the same orientation.

In another embodiment, the said first and second gripping means aresynchronised and pass from the release position to the gripping positionand grip the said syringes together and release them in the nesttogether, the said first and second gripping means being arranged totake the said syringes in movement from the chain, one on an outwardsection and the other on a return section. In this case, the grippingaxis of the first gripping means and that of the second gripping meansare reversed and the second gripping means and the first gripping meanswork with a reversed orientation.

Advantageously, the syringe packing device according to the inventioncomprises a device for ejecting syringes at the end of the circuit thatmakes it possible, amongst other things, when the chain is stopped, atthe end of operation, to be able to empty it of the syringes in thelinks but not yet packed in the nest.

In addition, when a syringe is defective or has been broken, or one ofthe links is not occupied by a syringe, the said gripping meansadvantageously detect that the batch is not complete. In this case, theyare for example programmed not to take this batch and to await the nextone. In such a case, it is preferential for the device to comprise theaforementioned syringe ejection means in order to empty the links notyet occupied at the end of the circuit. In addition, this avoids havingto regulate the entry of the syringes into the transport chain, whichwould inevitable lead to a stoppage of the transfer wheel or thepitch-setting means, which would result in a banging together asmentioned above and the breaking that is generally associated therewith.

In an advantageous embodiment, the said means of setting the syringes tothe right pitch, the said transport chain with links having the saidpitch, the said transfer wheel and possibly the said ejection device arearranged on an exchangeable platform.

In this case, when the packing device according to the invention is topack another size of syringe, for example with a smaller diameter, it isnot necessary to replace the device, but only the platform, and thisoperation takes only a few minutes, rather than having to position newelements separately.

Other embodiments of the device according to the invention are indicatedin the accompanying claims.

Another subject matter of the invention is a method comprising the stepsof:

-   -   bringing and setting to the right pitch syringes to be packed in        a pitch-setting zone with an obtaining of syringes set to the        right pitch,    -   a gripping of the syringes set to the right pitch, using        gripping means,    -   a movement of the syringes taken towards the said nests in which        the said syringes are to be packed by the gripping means.

This method is characterised in that it also comprises transport, by achain, of the syringes between the said pitch-setting zone and apicking-up zone and in that the picking up by the gripping means iscarried out in movement and comprises, in a cyclic manner, a phase ofbringing the gripping means up against the said chain, a gripping phaseand a phase of moving the syringes taken towards the said nest withrelease of the syringes in the aforementioned nest.

Other embodiments of the method according to the invention are indicatedin the accompanying claims.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention willemerge from the description given below, non-limitatively and makingreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nest comprising 100 syringes.

FIG. 2A is a profile of a particularly simple embodiment of thesyringe-packing device according to the invention.

FIG. 2B is a view from above of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 3A, B and C illustrate the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 inoperation, that is to say during the three phases of the cycle of thegripping means, namely the approach phase, the gripping phase and therelease phase.

FIG. 4A is a view from above of parts of the transport chain with linkshaving the said pitch driven by one of the at least two drive shafts.

FIG. 4B is a view from above of a link of the said transport chain.

FIG. 4C is a front view of a link of the said transport chain.

FIG. 4D is a side view of a link of the said transport chain.

FIG. 4E is a front view of a link of the said transport chain containinga syringe.

FIG. 4F is a front view of a set of links of the said transport chain.

FIG. 5 is a view from above of a variant according to the inventionillustrating a pivot point with finks able to move bidirectionally.

FIG. 6A is a profile view of a particular embodiment of thesyringe-packing device according to the invention.

FIG. 6B is a view from above of the particular embodiment of the syringepacking device illustrated in FIG. 6A, in which the said chain comprisestwo outward sections and two return sections.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are views from above of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6A or FIG. 6B, illustrated in operation and showing the threephases of the cycle of the gripping means, the approach phase, thegripping phase and the release phase with packing in the said nest.

FIGS. 8A and 8C are views from above of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6A or FIG. 6B, illustrated in operation and showing the threephases of the cycle of the gripping means, the approach phase, thegripping phase and the release phase with packing in the said nest, inwhich the gripping means grip the syringes on the opposite side.

In the figures, the identical or similar elements bear the samereference signs.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a nest 1 is a syringe display that comprises abase plate 2 provided with tubes 3 all extending in a directionperpendicular to the base plate 2, through which the syringes 4 areinserted. The collars 5 of the syringes 4 then rest on the ends of thetubes 3 that are opposite to the base plate 2.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate particularly simplified embodiments of thedevice for packing syringes in nests.

The syringes manufactured or packed are brought by way of example by aconveyor belt 6 to the device according to the invention. In theillustration here, the syringes 4 are positioned with collars 5uppermost and the collars 5 rest on two parallel walls 6A and 6B betweenwhich the body of the syringe hangs.

As can be seen, the syringes 4 arrive in an irregular fashion, that isto say they are stuck to one another and oriented differently, whichmeans that the oval collar 5 may be perpendicular, or parallel to thetwo parallel walls 6A and 6B, or may have any intermediate orientation.In addition, the syringes 4 can be spaced apart to a greater or lesserextent, according to the delivery thereof.

The devices for packing syringes in a nest comprises means 7 of settingthe syringes 4 at the right pitch, arranged to separate and distance orbring closer together at the said pitch the syringes brought, so thattheir separation is regular. This zone is called the pitch-setting zone.

In the case illustrated here in FIG. 2, the pitch-setting means comprisean even pitch worm 7. It goes without saying that in certain embodimentsa worm with a convergent or divergent pitch may be more appropriate.

The device for packing syringes 4 in nests 1 also comprises a transportchain 8 with links 9 having the said pitch. The chain is in movement atleast around two drive axes 10 and 11. When the syringes 4 arrive on theconveyor belt 6, they are set to the right pitch by the worm 7 forsetting at the right pitch and then transferred by means of the transferwheel 12 and next the syringes are housed at least partially in a link 8of the transport chain 9. The syringes 4 are therefore transported andset in motion after the pitch-setting zone.

The device for packing syringes in nests 1 according to the inventioncomprise in addition first gripping means 13 comprising an end 14connected to an actuation arm (for example robotic) and a free end 15,for example provided with fingers or suckers, for gripping the syringes4 in the transport chain 8. The first gripping means 13 take thesyringes 4 from the said transport chain 8 to a so-called take-off zone,which will not necessarily always be the same, depending on the way inwhich the gripping means 13 are programmed. The syringes are thereforetransported between the said pitch-setting zone and the take-off zone.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the gripping means 13 take off thesyringes 4 in movement and the taking off comprises, cyclically, a phasewhere the gripping means 3 approach (FIG. 3A) the said transport chain8, a phase of gripping the syringes 4 (FIG. 3B) and a phase of movingthe syringes 4 taken off towards the said nests 1 with release of thesyringes 4 in the aforementioned nest 1 (FIG. 3C).

The gripping means therefore have a gripping position (FIG. 3B) in whichthe gripping means grip a predetermined quantity of syringes. In thisparticular case where the capacity of the nest is 100 syringes (10 linesof 10 syringes), the gripping means grip 10 syringes at a time. Thegripping means 13 also have a release position in which the grippingmeans 13 release the said predetermined quantity of syringes 4 in orderto dispose them in nests 1 (FIG. 3C). In addition, the first grippingmeans 13 are also in the release position during the phase (FIG. 3A) ofapproaching the transport chain 8 (before the syringes are gripped) andthe gripping means pass from the release position to the grippingposition, in movements synchronised with the movement of the chain, inorder to take off the batch of syringes in movement from the said chain.

As will easily be understood, the advantage of this system for packingsyringes 4 in nests 1 according to the invention lies in the fact thatthe syringes 4 move forward constantly, there is no stoppage of thechain 8 or conveyor 6 or even of the pitch-setting worm 7 to effect thegripping by the gripping means 13, which makes it possible to eliminatejolts on the conveyor or input transporter belt 6 that generally causemuch breakage.

FIG. 4A illustrates part of the transport chain 8 with links 9 havingthe said pitch p of a packing device, for example for syringes 4. Thetransport chain 8 is driven by drive axes, which comprise for example atoothed wheel 10 rotating about a spindle, in which the chain 8cooperates in order to start to move.

The link 9, as can be seen in FIG. 4, comprises an external wall 16 witha cross section substantially identical to the cross section of thesyringe 4 to be packed or any other object to be packed. In the externalwall 16, at least one projection 17 having a central orifice 18 makes itpossible to allow to pass a spindle 19 acting as a pivot point betweentwo consecutive links 9. More particularly, one of the two sides has afemale projection 17 a and the other side has a male projection 17 b(see FIG. 4C). Two consecutive links 9 are arranged so that theprojections 17 a and 17 b having a central orifice 18 fit together andso that the spindle 19 between the two links 9 serves as a common pivotpoint (see FIG. 4A).

As can be clearly in FIG. 4B, each link 8 arranged to house at leastpart of a syringe 4 comprises a lateral entry or exit opening 20 for thesyringe 4.

When the link 9 of the transport chain 8 is in movement in the syringepacking device according to the invention, this lateral opening 20 facesa syringe 4 set at the right pitch by the said pitch-setting means 7 orkept at the right pitch by the said transfer wheel 12.

Preferably, the said opening 20 has a width adjusted with respect to thecross-section of the syringe 4 to be housed in the said link 9. In thisway, as can be seen in FIG. 4E, the syringe is positioned in a stablemanner, by a housing of the syringe 4 fitted in the link 9.

In a particular embodiment, the pivot point 19 enables the links 9 to bemovable with respect to one another unidirectionally from an axis X ofthe chain 8 passing through each pivot point 19, that is to say eithertowards the front or towards the rear. In FIG. 2B, the pivot point mustenable the links only to be movable from the axis X towards the insideof the closed circuit and to be returned into position aligned with theaxis X. In a variant, the pivot point 19 enables the links 9 to bemovable with respect to one another bidirectionally from a chain spindle8 passing through each pivot point 19, that is to say towards the frontand towards the rear as can be seen in FIG. 5. In this figure, the linkis designed so as to coil either on the face having the lateral opening20 or on the rear face, that is to say along the external wall 16, andthe device according to the invention then comprises at least a thirddrive spindle 23.

In an advantageous embodiment, each link 9 has a top surface 21 providedwith a projection 22 arranged to lock the said syringe 4 housed in thesaid link 9 and thus in a sure manner prevent any fall and therefore anybreakage (see FIG. 9D). As already mentioned, the syringe 4 presented bythe pitch-setting means 7 or by the transfer wheel 12 passes over thesaid projection 22 and redescends as it advances in the said link 9.Next the collar 5 of the said syringe 4 rests on the top surface 21 andis then housed in a secure manner.

FIG. 4F is a front view of a set of links of the said transport chain.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, a variant of the device for packing syringes 4according the invention can be seen, in which the closed circuit of thetransport chain 8 comprises two outward sections (respectively I and IIIor II and IV) and two return sections (respectively II and IV or I andIII), by virtue of the presence of a fourth drive spindle 24 and fifthdrive spindle 25. The terms outward sections (I-III or II-IV) and returnsections (II-IV or mean that the direction of travel of the chain isreversed. This particularly efficient embodiment comprises firstgripping means 13 and second gripping means 13. The first and secondgripping means 13 are synchronised and therefore perform the steps oftheir aforementioned three-phase cycle at the same time. Here thegripping means 13 preferably comprise suckers 26 at the free end 25enabling them, using the creation of a vacuum, to grip the syringes 4.In this embodiment, the gripping means 13 grip the syringes 4 throughthe opening 20 in the link 9, which therefore also serves as an exitorifice.

In a variant, provision is also made according to the invention for thegripping means 13 to comprise fingers or a comb the teeth or fingers ofwhich slip between the syringes 4 and in which the collars 5 will reston two adjacent fingers or teeth.

The gripping means 13 lift slightly to allow the syringes 4 to pass overthe projections 22 on the top surface 21 of each link 9.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are views from above of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 6A or FIG. 6B, in operation. FIG. 7A shows the first phase of thecycle of the first and second gripping means 13, namely the approachphase. FIG. 7B illustrates the second phase of the cycle of the firstand second gripping means 13, namely the gripping phase. FIG. 7Cillustrates the third phase of the cycle of the first and secondgripping means 13, namely the phase of releasing the syringes 4 withpacking in the said nest 1.

The packing device according to the invention comprises two outwardsections and two return sections on the transport chain 8 with thegripping of the syringes 4 by the first and second gripping means 13 onthe same side.

The device also advantageously comprises two parallel conveyors (notillustrated) for transporting the nests 1.

In this particularly profitable and rapid advantageous embodiment, thesame robot controls the first and second gripping means 13. The firstand second gripping means 13 respectively approach a first I and thirdIII section of the transport chain that are synchronised, that is to saythey move at the same speed.

In this embodiment, the first gripping means of the transport chaintakes a batch of 10 syringes every 20 syringes in the first section 1and the second gripping means at the same time take a batch of 10syringes on the third section III.

These two batches of 10 syringes move in the same direction and in phasewith the first section I of the transport chain. In this way the robotsimultaneously loads 20 syringes in two batches of 10 syringes.

In this case, the first and second gripping means 13 load on the sameside of the chain 8. The gripping of the syringes by the clamp iseffected by way of example by suckers that pull the syringes into aguidance cavity in the free end 15 of the said gripping means. This isillustrated in FIG. 7B and represents the gripping phase.

Before loading the syringes 4 into the nest 1, the two gripping means 13move closer together in order to reach the spacing of the nest 1.

This type of machine is used for renesting nests 1 where the number ofrows is a multiple of 4. This is because, the rows being too close toone another, the gripping means 13 cannot load two consecutive rows.

This makes it necessary to load one row out of two (the even or oddrows). During the first loading, the first and second gripping meansload rows 1 and 3 and next rows 2 and 4. In a variant of the invention,two robots each having two arms to which first and second gripping meansare respectively connected work in alternating fashion. In this case,the overall functioning is the same except that, during the firstloading, the first and second gripping means of the first robot loadrows 1 and 3, the first and second gripping means of the second robotloads rows 2 and 4, and next once again the first robot loads rows 5 and7 and so on.

In this way each robot has a cycle time corresponding to 40 syringes,that is to say 4 seconds in total corresponding to 4 batches of 10syringes per second. The use of this principle eliminates the stoppageeach time a batch of syringes is formed and gives a constant linearspeed at the entry of the syringes.

The assembly is driven at one point, which makes it possible to produceone plate per syringe format. The transport chain is for exampleproduced by means of links made from injected plastic. It goes withoutsaying that the pitch of the transport chain and of the pitch-settingmeans as well as of any transfer wheel corresponds to the pitch of thenest.

Generally the packing device according to the invention comprises adevice (not illustrated) for ejecting syringes at the end of the circuitand preferably the said pitch-setting means 7 for the syringes 4, thesaid transport chain 8 with links 9 having the said pitch, the saidtransfer wheel 12 and possibly the said ejection device are arranged onan exchangeable platform in order to be able to change platform quickly,when the syringes 4 to be packed have a different diameter.

In FIGS. 8A to 8C, the device for packing syringes 4 according theinvention comprises two outward sections I and III and two returnsections II and IV on the transport chain 8 with the gripping of thesyringes 4 by the first and second gripping means 13 on the oppositeside.

The device also advantageously comprises two parallel conveyors (notillustrated) for transporting the nests 1.

This packing device according to the invention is preferably designedfor nests 1 where the number of rows is a multiple of two.

In this case, the first and second gripping means (clamps) 13 must loadtwo contiguous lines. This makes it necessary for the gripping means 13to be outside and the syringes 4 inside, when the gripping means 14 movetogether in order to reach the right spacing for the nest 1.

The gripping of the syringes 4 on the transport chain will be identicalto that explained for FIGS. 6 and 7 for the first section I but on theother hand the gripping of the syringes will be on the opposite face forthe third section. The second gripping means of the third section mustpass through the aperture in the top part of the link (FIG. 1).

Otherwise the whole of the syringe packing device according to theinvention is identical to what was detailed for the previous embodimentsin FIGS. 6 and 7.

Naturally the present invention is in no way limited to the embodimentsdescribed above and many modifications can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the scope of the accompanying claims.

For example, the present invention refers to syringes, but it goeswithout saying that it also applies to bottles or any type of receptacleor object for which the packing device may be useful, for examplesterile antibiotic bottles that must be packed in packages in an orderedand prearranged manner or ballpoint or felt pens in displays.

In addition, the invention has been clearly illustrated by causing twogripping means to function in a synchronised manner. It goes withoutsaying that the first and second gripping means may be offset exactly,so that the said first gripping means pass from the release position tothe gripping position and grip the said syringes when the said secondgripping means take off the said moving syringes from the chain andrelease them in the nest.

In addition, the invention has been illustrated generally with approachto the first and second section, it goes without saying that this canalso take place on the second and fourth sections or other sections whenthere are fewer or more of them, according to the way in which the robotthat controls the gripping means is programmed.

1. Device for packing syringes in nests comprising: means of setting thesyringes to the right pitch, arranged to separate and move the broughtsyringes to the said pitch, first means of gripping the said syringes(4) set to the said pitch, having a gripping position in which thegripping means grip a predetermined quantity of syringes (4) and arelease position in which the gripping means release the saidpredetermine quantity of syringes in order to arrange them in nests,characterised in that it also comprises a transport chain with linkshaving the said pitch, in closed circuit and moving at least around twodrive spindles, arranged to transport and move the syringes coming fromthe pitch-setting means, each link being arranged to house at least partof a syringe, and in that the said first gripping means pass from therelease position to the gripping position, in movement synchronised withthe movement of the chain, in order to take off a predetermined quantityof syringes in movement from the said chain.
 2. Device according toclaim 1, also comprising a transfer wheel arranged to load the syringesset to the right pitch by the said pitch-setting means in the saidtransport chain.
 3. Device according to claim 1, in which the said linksin the chain are connected together by a pivot point enabling the linksto be able to move with respect to one another unidirectionally from anaxis (X) of the chain passing through each pivot point.
 4. Deviceaccording to claim 1, in which the said links in the chain are connectedtogether by a pivot point enabling the links to move with respect to oneanother bidirectionally from an axis X of the chain passing through eachpivot point.
 5. Device according to claim 1, in which each link has across section substantially identical to the cross section of thesyringe to be packed.
 6. Device according to claim 1, in which each linkarranged to house at least part of a syringe comprises a lateral entryor exit opening for the syringe facing a syringe set to the right pitchby the said pitch-setting means.
 7. Device according to claim 6, inwhich the said opening has a width adjusted with respect to the crosssection of the syringe to be housed in the said link.
 8. Deviceaccording to claim 1, in which each link has a top surface provided witha projection arranged to lock the said syringe housed in the said link.9. Device according to claim 1, also comprising a conveyor preferablyexternal to the said transport chain in closed circuit for transportingnests to be packed or that have been packed.
 10. Device according toclaim 1, in which the said pitch-setting means are supplied by syringefeed means, in particular by a conveyor or a transporter belt. 11.Device according to claim 1, comprising second means of gripping thesaid syringes set to the right pitch, having a gripping position inwhich the second gripping means grip a predetermined quantity ofsyringes and a release position in which the second gripping meansrelease the said predetermined quantity of syringes in order to arrangethem in nests, the said second gripping means passing from the releaseposition to the gripping position, in movement synchronised with themovement of the chain, in order to take off a predetermined quantity ofsyringes in movement from the said chain.
 12. Device according to claim1, in which the number of driving spindles is at least four and in whichthe said chain comprises more than one outward section and more thanreturn section.
 13. Device according to claim 12, in which the saidfirst and second gripping means are synchronised and pass from therelease position to the gripping position and grip the said syringestogether and release them in the nest together, the said first andsecond gripping means being arranged to take off the said movingsyringes from the chain, each on a different outward section or each ona different return section.
 14. Device according to claim 1, alsocomprising a device for ejecting syringes at the end of the circuit. 15.Device according to claim 1, in which the said means of setting thesyringes to the right pitch, the said transport chain with links havingthe said pitch, the said transfer wheel and possibly the said ejectiondevice are arranged on an exchangeable platform.
 16. Method of packingsyringes in nests, comprising the steps of: bringing and setting to theright pitch syringes to be packed in a pitch-setting zone with obtainingof syringes set to the right pitch, gripping of the syringes set to theright pitch by gripping means, movement of the syringes picked up to thesaid nests in which the said syringes are to be packed by the grippingmeans, characterised in that it also comprises transportation by a chainof the syringes between the said pitch-setting zone and a picking-upzone and in that the picking up by the gripping means is carried out inmotion and, in a cyclic manner, comprises a phase of approaching thesaid chain by the gripping means, a gripping phase and a phase of movingthe picked-up syringes towards the said nests with the release of thesyringes in the aforementioned nest.